Fab Feb. Finish

CHARLES ODUMThe Associated Press

Published Thursday, February 28, 2008

ATHENS, Ga. -- Florida coach Billy Donovan says his team is a long way from comparing with the national championship squads of the last two years, but at least the Gators may have put an end to questions about their status for the NCAA tournament.

Nick Calathes made three 3-pointers in the first three minutes and scored 22 points, and Florida never trailed while beating Georgia 77-64 on Wednesday night for the Gators' 10th straight win in the series.

"We did a good job of moving the ball and my teammates found me open," Calathes said. "They did a good job spacing the floor."

Walter Hodge added another 3 less than four minutes into the game as Florida had quick success against Georgia's zone defense.

The young Gators were only 2-4 in February, including three straight road losses.

"The one thing I look at is they've responded when we have played poorly, in terms of competing and playing harder, and that's really all I'm looking for," Donovan said.

"Now how much we've improved or grown up or how much better we are, it would be hard for me to say we've got it all figured out."

Calathes, a 6-foot-6 freshman, has been Donovan's most consistent newcomer. He has scored in double figures in 12 of 13 SEC games, with the only exception Florida's home game against Georgia earlier in the month.

Calathes was held to seven points in Florida's 77-67 victory over Georgia on Feb. 9 in Gainesville, but he proved in the opening minutes Wednesday night he was back in his usual SEC form as the Gators completed the season sweep of the Bulldogs.

"When you're a young player and you make three 3s in a row to open a game, it has a way of changing your disposition and your focus level," Donovan said. "We've seen these guys when we haven't shot the ball well and it looks like they're in space."

Sundiatta Gaines scored 13 points and Albert Jackson, making his first career start, had 12 for Georgia (12-14, 3-10). Georgia suffered its fourth straight loss and has lost 9 of 10.

Jackson scored four of Georgia's first six points as the Bulldogs attacked inside. Florida countered with the barrage of 3-pointers, led by Calathes.

"It at least allowed us to throw the ball to the post because the way they were playing the zone, they really had it packed in," Donovan said. "Sometimes when they pack in the zone like that you really have to make some shots over the top.

"That kind of opened things up on the floor and then we could have a little more balance of going inside and out."

Florida pushed the lead to double figures midway through the first half. Georgia cut the lead to 37-30 on a basket by Jackson before Florida closed the half with an 8-2 run to lead 45-32 at the break.

A three-point play by Speights gave Florida a 62-44 lead midway through the second half, and he again pushed the lead to 18 at 65-47 with a jam with 8:15 left to play.

Georgia came no closer than 12 points the rest of the way.

"It was a tough night all around," said Georgia coach Dennis Felton. "We were very sluggish in all areas, which is not very characteristic of this team. ... We normally get after it with a lot of energy, but we were apprehensive on offense and a stop slow on defense."

Georgia won its first 10 home games before losing four of its last five at Stegeman Coliseum.

A series of close losses, including a 74-71 loss to then-No. 4 Tennessee on Feb. 16, may have taken a toll on Georgia.

"It looked like we hit a wall, but we had to break through," Felton said. "We can't let the wall hold us back. This year we've had a depleted roster and have played a lot of freshmen, but it's a long season and we have to learn to fight. We have to find a way to keep fighting."